When it comes to games, many people think of gamers with joysticks and beautiful virtual worlds. But behind all this lies one of the most profitable markets, where serious budgets are at stake and decisions are made based on business logic rather than emotions.
For investors, a game is not just about the plot and graphics. It is a product with an economy, an audience, and a lifespan. You can make money here, but only if you look deeper: who is releasing the project, what is its revenue model, and does the team know how to work with the market?
At KISS Software, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, we view the industry precisely in this way—as a market for business assets, not entertainment. In this article, we will show you which strategies and areas make investing in games interesting, and what risks you should keep in mind before entering this field.
The gaming industry is not standing still: new formats, revenue models, and entire niches are emerging that simply did not exist a couple of years ago. For investors, this means one thing: there is room to grow here. But to understand why the market is so attractive to capital, it is important to look at two things: how fast it is growing and what makes investing in games particularly valuable.
According to Newzoo, its volume exceeded $180 billion in 2023. PwC analysts believe that by 2032 it could reach $600 billion—and this is not a fantasy, but a calculation based on current growth rates and audience expansion.
What is driving the market forward:
For investors, it is not only growth itself that matters, but also its structure. Some segments have already proven their stability, while others are just starting out and could yield multiple returns. It is the combination of these factors that makes the gaming industry so attractive.
It is not only audience growth that speaks in favor of the industry. There are several other features that increase the value of investments:
“It is the combination of stable demand and potential for rapid growth that makes the gaming industry particularly attractive to investors seeking a balance between reliability and the opportunity for multiple capital gains,” emphasizes Yevhen Kasyanenko.
The gaming industry offers investors several different entry points. Some choose the tried and tested route—shares in large companies and funds. Others look to studios and startups, where they can catch growth at an early stage. And still others bet on esports and platforms, which are rapidly gaining audience and advertising budgets today.
The easiest way to invest in games is through the stock market, and there are several options for doing so:
Both paths are suitable for investors who want to enter the video game industry with minimal effort: stocks focus on a specific player, while ETFs offer broader coverage and diversification.
This path is more suitable for those who are willing to take risks for high growth. Here, investments go directly to game studios or startups. The potential is huge: one successful project can pay off the investment many times over. But the risks are also higher — the game may not “take off,” and the team may not be able to cope with the task.
There are two main approaches:
This approach requires involvement and analysis, but it is precisely what gives you the opportunity to be part of a future hit before players around the world know about it.
Esports has gone from local clubs to arenas with thousands of spectators and broadcasts to millions of people around the world. Here, investors have several areas to focus on:
The gaming industry is growing and changing, opening up more and more ways for investors to earn money and achieve long-term capital growth.
“Yes, games promise significant growth, but there are also plenty of risks. The market is unpredictable, and it is important for investors to keep this in mind when evaluating projects,” warns our expert.
It is important to keep in mind some of the most important risk factors, which we will discuss below.
The main feature of the market is that it thrives on hits. If a game becomes a trend, the company receives billions in revenue. If it doesn’t, the budgets are wasted. The problem is that it is almost impossible to predict success in advance.
Several points should be taken into account here:
Therefore, it is important for investors to evaluate not only the video game itself, but also the studio’s strategy: how it works with the community, whether it can retain players, and whether it has a reserve of ideas for the future.
The second problem is rules that change on the fly. And the larger the industry, the more attention it receives from the government.
The gaming market can make money quickly, but it can also run into problems just as quickly. A savvy investor must keep in mind not only the revenue figures, but also all these pitfalls.
In gaming, as in any business, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. Loud announcements, beautiful trailers, promises of a “new era of gaming” — it all sounds tempting, but for an investor, other things are important: the numbers, the strategy, and the people behind the project. They are the ones who determine whether the company will grow or burn out at the start.
There are several things that cannot be overlooked:
It all depends on what you are looking for: calm stability or the opportunity to catch a sharp rise.
The main thing is not to look only at the nice numbers in the reports. It is important to understand how the company sees the future and how ready it is to adapt to it. Because in the gaming industry, it is not those who shout the loudest about “revolution” who win, but those who know how to work for the long term.
Now that you know the ways to invest in the industry and understand its prospects and risks, it’s time to move on to practice. To avoid getting distracted, it’s best to start with two basic things: choosing a broker through which you can enter the market and a clear plan of action so that the start goes smoothly.
An investor cannot do without a broker—it is through them that stocks and funds are purchased. There are many options, but the main players are well known:
When comparing brokers, don’t just look at the brand name. Commissions, interface convenience, the set of available tools, and how support works are important. These “details” ultimately determine how comfortable your entry into the market will be,” advises Yevhen Kasyanenko.
Once you have decided on a broker, follow these steps:
This approach allows you to enter the industry without unnecessary fuss: you understand where you are going, why, and on what terms.
Today’s gaming industry is not just about entertainment, but about a real market where billions are at stake and new growth points are emerging. There is room here for both cautious investments through the shares of major publishers and bolder steps, such as investments in studios or esports.
We at KISS Software, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, view games as full-fledged business assets. To get the most out of them, it is important not to succumb to hype, but to understand the numbers, assess the risks, and think several steps ahead. This approach not only protects your capital, but also gives you the chance to grow it along with the market, which continues to expand.
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